Member Article

Competition offers funding for innovative R&D

Government investment will stimulate sustainable manufacturing and growth in the UK’s process industries.

Up to £5m could be invested in innovative research and development projects, following a competition ran by the UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board.

The Board is to award grant funding to support business-led feasibility and collaborative R&D projects that will lead to the development and commercialisation of innovative approaches to sustainable manufacturing for the process industry.

Opening on February 27, 2012, the competition will seek proposals for projects that will develop innovative processes in areas such as; changing batch to continuous process, novel catalysis, innovative heat management or input in process, solvent free reactions or use of novel solvents and process measurement and analysis.

Collaborative R&D projects should last one to three years and will attract up to 50% public funding, while feasibility projects should last six to nine months and will attract up to 75% public funding.

The development of sustainable processes is seen as a key requirement for the continued success and growth of process industries, and to maintain global competitiveness.

All applicants must show how their project will make a positive contribution in terms of economic, environmental and social impacts, the triple bottom line, taking into account the full product life cycle.

The competition encompasses industry sectors such as bulk and fine chemicals, pharmaceutical and biotech, agrochemicals, coatings and lubricants, home and personal care, food and drink, mining, water, construction materials, oil and fuel.

For feasibility study projects, the registration deadline is noon on April 18, and the deadline for applications is at noon on April 25.

The process for collaborative R&D projects is divided into two stages: the deadline for registration is noon on April 18, and expressions of interest must be submitted by noon on April 25.

An independent panel of experts will then submit candidates to make a full application. The second stage for invited applications will open on May 21, and the deadline is noon July 4.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .